"Dear young friends: only Jesus knows what “definite service” he has in mind for you. Be open to his voice resounding in the depths of your heart: ... he needs priests, good and holy priests, men who are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep. Ask our Lord what he has in mind for you! Ask him for the generosity to say “yes!” Do not be afraid to give yourself totally to Jesus. He will give you the grace you need to fulfil your vocation". Pope Benedict XVI, Hyde Park, September 2010

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Discerning a Vocation to Marriage

Fr Richard Aladics will lead the weekend

A lot of people have asked whether the Vocations Centre can do anything to help young people understand better the marriage vocation. Having thought about it, I think it is certainly worthwhile offering a weekend on the Catholic understanding of marriage and the principles of Christian courtship and so I am pleased to announce that there will be a Discerning Marriage Weekend at the Vocations Centre in Whitstable from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th January.

To understand better what it is, it might be worth stating what it is not! It is not a marriage preparation weekend. In other words it is not for people who have already discerned what their vocation is and are already planning to get married. It is for people who either want to learn more about the vocation to marriage or who are hoping one day to get married. Having said that, however, I should stress that nor is it a weekend for someone looking for a future spouse.

The weekend will be led by Fr Richard Aladics who studied at the John Paul II Centre for Marriage and Family Life.

Places are very limited at the Vocations Centre. To be sure of yours please book early by sending us an email. We will then send you a booking form. This is a donation only weekend.

3 comments:

I agree there's a real need for "after sales service" when couples get married. It's something we need to look into. I have a priest friend who has prepared the best part of a thousand couples over the years and who is hoping to develop something for them. This weekend, however, is for those who haven't got as far as marriage. In fact it is not even particularly for the engaged: just an effort to give people an insight into this wonderful - yet difficult - vocation. We have had a good response and I am going have to see if I can find overspill accommodation locally. Do say a prayer for its success.

I think this is a great idea. It's something I've been interesting in but didn't know was being done. There's a lot out there now for vocations to religious life, less so for marriage but I think it is needed just as much. So, thank you for this event. Unfortunately I cannot come as it clashes with another retreat I'm going to!

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About this Blog....

On this Blog you will find news and items of interest about activities to promote vocations in the Archdiocese of Southwark and elsewhere in England and Wales. The Blog is the responsibility of the Southwark Vocations Director Fr Stephen Langridge and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Archdiocese. More information about Vocations in Southwark is available on the Southwark Vocations website which has a link below.